Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-02

affections. For was not my acquant-
ance with Pussy Black closely con-
nected with stairs? And had not
Pussy climbed to the title on the
golden stairs of her fathers California
mine? 1 smiled grimly at the whim-
steal bitterness Of my thoughts, but
my heart was heavy within me, for
the one love of my life was the future
Countess Castelnuovo, the child of the
"Circus Blacks"
HE KILLED HER FATHER.
A Girl Whose Greatest BenefactOr
Was the Man who Orphaned Her.
An Edgefeld Is. c. special says:
The death of Colonel w. R. Smith,
which took place in New York few
weeks since, has brought to light a
very remarkable incident. From Miss
Rhett Myron, the principal figure in
the drama, the following facts have
been obtained, with permission for
their publication: Hayne Myron, the
father of the young lady, was planter
in South Carolina. His home was a
typical Southern home, spacious and
hospitable, surrounded by broad acres
and faithful slaves. His family con-
sisted of his wife and Rhett, who was
then little child and the idol Of her
father as we'll as the pet of the
plantation. At the breaking out
Of the war, in the fall OF
1861, Hayne Myron Joined a
volunteer South Carolina regiment.
Before leaving home he had picture
of his little girl painted in miniature
and encased it in a locket that he
placed next to his heart, saying: "My
darling, this will be 'papa's shield
when he is in danger, and his sum
shine when he rests" and with eyes
filled with tears he smothered the
face and sunny head of his child with
farewell kisses and hurried away from
his peaceful home out to the world of
danger. Six months later, in skir-
mish in Virginia, Hayne Myron was
killed in close combat by a Federal
officer. Only few words were sent
| to the old home to tell the sad story.
During General Sherman's invasion
| into South Carolina the Myron home
stead was destroyed. The widow and
daughter continued to live on the
plantation in an outbuilding, sup
ported from the rents from the lands.
Two years ago Mrs. Myron died, and
through the influence of friends Miss
Myron obtained a position as govern
ess in the family of Col. W. r. Smith
of New York. She stated to me that
first meeting with Colonel Smith was
peculiar. That when his wife intro
duced her to him, saying, "This is our
new governess from South Carolina,
Miss Rhett Myron," his face be-
came deathly white, and he gave a
sudden start. (He was absent from
home when Mrs. Smith engaged herr
He mechanically shook hands with
her and tried to speak, but his lips
seemed sealed. But later his manners
changed to kindness and cordiality,
and she was treated more as an hon
ored guest than a salaried teacher
He insisted on paying her four times
the amount she charged for her SER
vices, and made her duties light. One
evening she was sitting in the family
circle, telling OF her past life down in
COuIll SdTOIlild: VI liC oPaCiouo hOuoO
with it's twenty columns, of the dusky
slaves who used to set her on their
shoulders, calling her their "little
queen as they carried her through
the cotton-felds that looked like seas
of snow foam. For the first time she
spokeeof her father, how handsome
and sad he looked as he went away on
that dreadful dav; how he took
her picture with him and told all he
said. She states that she was forced
to stop in the midst of her words, for
Col. Smith turned ghastly pale and
left the room. 1t all seemed strange
to me then, she said, but the meaning
is plain now. Miss Myron continued
to live with Col. Smiths family for
two years. SIT was a haven and a
home to me-" she said, Il had so
long toiled and worked on our planta-
ton, isolated from society and all ad-
vantages. 1t was like fairy life had
opened to me of ease and luxury; but
my heart was almost breaking as re-
membered all that / had lost in those
sad, sweet days."
Six weeks ago Colonel Smith was
taken suddenly ill, and when he re-
allied that death was inevitable, he
expressed desire to see Miss Myron
alone. She states that as she neared
the bed of the dying man, she saw
him holding something convulsively
in one hand as he extended the other
to her and exclaimed: "Rhett Myron,
forgive me before die; without your
pardon / cannot die; come close and
listen to what I have to tell you. 1t
was who made you an orphan, my
hands are red with your fathers blood.
Take this" he said, handing me the
package, sT found it on his dying
breast. 1t is your face; your name
and his name are upon 1t. Take it
and forgive one who has tried to ex-
plate the wrongs done you. Oh, can
YOU forgive a dying man|' and the
voice became faint and low. "Oh f!
sir, you both were soldiers; l freely
forgive" and the poor girl, who could
say no more, fell unconscious upon
the floor. "Thank God" he MUIR
INJURED, and all was over.
When Rhett Myron recovered, the
man who had killed her father and
who was later the best friend she ever
knew was dead. In his will he be-
queathed to her the generous sum of
SIS, 900. He also left letter giving
all the particulars OF her fathers
death. Only few days ago ! saw
the picture-a sweet child face in an
azure cloud, and on the little plush
case were marks of blood. This is
certainly the most remarkable Incl